Skip to main content

Islamists to rally for Mursi as Egyptian tensions rise

Islamist supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi will rally in Cairo on Friday in a show of approval for him to upstage opposition protests planned to mark his first year in office at the end of the month.

Preparations for renewed street action after some months of calm have raised fears of violence of the kind that has punctuated the two-and-a-half years since Hosni Mubarak fell.

 

Mursi's opponents, who say at least 13 million people have signed a petition calling on him to step down, hope protests on June 30 will force him out. Their demand has angered Islamists who see it as an undemocratic bid to remove an elected leader.

His allies will rally after Friday prayers in Cairo.

A year after Mursi won election - with 13.2 million votes - the split between his supporters and a diverse opposition that accuses his Muslim Brotherhood of trying to Islamise the state is deeper than ever. It has fuelled political instability that is hampering Egypt's recovery from a deep economic crisis.

Tensions between Mursi's supporters and opponents spilled over into violence outside Cairo this week. Around 100 people have been injured in scattered skirmishes triggered by Mursi's decision to appoint more Islamists as provincial governors.

Rhetoric has grown more toxic in recent days: one Islamist cleric referred to Mursi's opponents as "infidels" during a rally attended by the president last week. The opposition are billing it as Mursi's last days in office, hoping for a repeat of the January 25 uprising that toppled Mubarak in 2011.

"There are numerous saboteur forces which aim to bring down the state," said Khaled al-Sherif of the political wing of al-Gamaa al-Islamiya, a once armed Salafist group that backs Mursi.

But Egypt's biggest Salafist force, the Nour Party, is not taking part. It has warned of "an imminent collision" between Egyptians and called on both sides to give ground - Mursi by appointing a cabinet for national unity and the opposition by switching its focus to elections from street protests.

MUTUAL MISTRUST

Grievances have been stirred by economic hardship as the Mursi administration has struggled to attract foreign tourists and investment, confront a budget crisis and stem a slide in a local currency now at record lows against the dollar.

Islamists say the opposition have rebuffed Mursi's offers of power-sharing and want to thwart him by fomenting instability.

"My real worry is that tomorrow will be another round of spreading hatred: accusations of being infidels and being against Islam," said Khaled Dawoud, spokesman for the National Salvation Front, an alliance of liberal and leftist parties.

Along with Mursi and the Brotherhood, one less obvious target of the wrath of some protesters is the United States and, specifically, its ambassador to Cairo, who this week suggested they would do better to improve opposition organizations than risk violence trying to oust a president who was fairly elected.

In a speech on Tuesday, Anne Patterson responded to "conspiracy theories" among disappointed liberals that Washington secretly backed a Brotherhood takeover of Egypt.

"This is the government that you and your fellow citizens elected," she said. "Even if you voted for others, I don't think the elected nature of this government is seriously in doubt.

_0">

"Egypt needs stability to get its economic house in order, and more violence on the streets will do little more than add new names to the lists of martyrs. Instead, I recommend Egyptians get organized."

_1">

Prominent businessman Naguib Sawiris shot back on Twitter: "Madam Ambassador, ... Please bless us with your silence."

_2">

Other social media postings were less polite. And the National Association for Change, among the organizers of the June 30 rallies, issued a statement complaining of Patterson's "blatant interference" in Egyptian domestic affairs.

_3">

(Additional reporting by Shaimaa Fayed and Omar Fahmy; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

_4">

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o